Lake County residents jockey for info on new health insurance law

Lake County health officials and local municipalities are gearing up for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which went into affect Oct. 1 (Lake County Health Department, Courtesy photo)

When Tom Decker lost his job last winter, his family lost its health insurance.

Though his kids – Madeline, 4, and Eli, 5 – were eligible for Medicaid, his wife, Dana, has a pre-existing health condition and remained uninsured. He said he pays $600 a month just to insure himself.

Decker eagerly awaited the next step this week in the progress of the Affordable Care Act.

"It may not be everything we want it to be, but it's going to be a hell of a lot better than what we have now," said Decker, 47, who now runs a small business and lives in Highland Park.

This week, thousands of Lake County residents – including those in Lake Forest and Libertyville – can join Decker in examining new health care options through the state's online "marketplace" for insurance plans.

Those without insurance were allowed to begin shopping different coverage options, which they would be required to select from before the March 31 deadline. The insurance marketplace opened Tuesday to a mix of excitement, confusion and concern.

To brace for the sweeping changes, state and local agencies rolled out broad initiatives to help consumers navigate the new options.

Lake Forest officials held meetings with city employees about the Affordable Care Act in an attempt to inform them of how the law may affect them and their families.

DeSha Kalmar, director of the city's human resources department, said the law probably won't impact Lake Forest city employees, but the meetings also are open to spouses and family members of employees—who might be affected.

In Libertyville, the Tranel Financial Group has been hosting various forums for all village residents about the Affordable Care Act.

Kristin Esser, marketing coordinator for the company, said at a forum last month, people of all ages attended, expressing concerns about implementation of the law.

"I can tell you, it was a much-needed seminar," Esser said. "Once you have a little knowledge, your mind is a little more at ease."

The company is planning on hosting future sessions on the topic, Esser said, and is continually distributing information about issues including the Affordable Care Act to Lake County residents.

In Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, the League of Women Voters has been a strong advocate for the Affordable Care Act.

Mary Matthews, co-president of the group, said the league has been encouraging members and residents to sign up for health insurance using the marketplaces.

The group has also hosted seminars and posted information to the group's Facebook page and website, she said.

Matthews said the group plans to host a forum in November to answer even more questions.

In Cook County, a similar effort is underway.

Alison Leipsiger, the legislative director for state Rep. Daniel Biss, D-Evanston, said counselors will be on hand to assist residents with questions about the Affordable Care Act and health-care transition at a public forum on Sunday, Oct. 13, at Evanston's Levy Center.

Biss and other state officials will lead a discussion on the new health care program, Leipsiger said.

"The truth is, we're hearing from a lot of people who are unsure of whether the Affordable Care Act will affect them, whether they're a small business owner or someone with coverage through their employer," Leipsiger said. "They have a lot of questions, and we're excited to help our constituents."

Under the Lake County initiative, Moraine Township – which covers most of Highland Park, Highwood and part of Deerfield – now has 21 certified "in-person counselors" to advise people of their new options. The counselors each completed 40 hours of training plus a background screening.

The new law will reach a wide variety of people in the area, including low-income people with no health insurance, small-business owners and people who may be pondering early retirement, according to Anne Flanigan Bassi, Moraine Township supervisor.

"Major life decisions have been driven by access to health care," Bassi said. "This law will give people new options."

Not everyone's convinced it will be a win for all.

Dean Klassman, a health insurance broker for more than 30 years, said young and healthy people might pay more than they otherwise might in a given geographic area because of the community rating rules of the new law.

"That's the scary part," said Klassman, of the Arlington Heights-based Klassman Financial Services.

But Klassman, who has advised the Decker family on their health insurance options, sees the positive, too.